Need a horror book club suggestion

[LemonTea]

At our next book club meeting we have to suggest something from the horror genere to be our next read.
It's not something I would usually pick up so don't know where to start.

I've read Stephen King (as a teenager) and other than suggesting Bram Stoker or Mary Shelley, I'm a bit lost.

Can anyone suggest something for me?

[janeite]

King's The Stand is brilliant.
A recent one which is sort of horror is The Gargoyle, which is good.
Dracula and Frankenstein are both brilliant.
King's favourite book is The Haunting Of Hill House, which may have conversation value for that reason.
Poe short stories?
Be a teenage loony and suggest Twilight?

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Stephen King The Stand.
Frankenstein.

[BettySwollux]

Stephen King - Thinner.
Was written under a pysudonym but I cant remember it, may have been Richard someone.

[tillyfernackerpants]

Betty - Richard Bachman

Another Stephen King fan here - The Stand is excellent, The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon is a bit shorter, also Bag of Bones or Insomnia

What about Shirley Jackson - We have always lived in the castle? She also wote Hill House which Janeite suggested

[LemonTea]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll have a look at the descriptions and let you know what we decide on.

[Ceasnake]

All previous suggestions seconded.

You could also try Misery (Stephen King)- as well as horror, it's very much about creativity and could generate some good discussions.

Lost Souls by Poppy Z Brite is a good choice if you like vampires.

[TsarChasm]

House of Lost Souls scared me witless but I couldn't put it down.

[LastTrainToNowhere]

Another vote for Stephen King, you can't go wrong with his books, especially the earlier ones. Personal favourites are Stand, It, Cujo, Needful Things and The Shining.

Turn of the Screw is very creepy.

If you want gory horror (iyswim) there's American Psycho which I'm reading for a book club. It's vile but funny at the same time. I can't read it, but I can't put it down either! Needs a very strong stomach though.

[Mumcentreplus]

The Bachman Books..varied and brilliant..

but most Stephen Kings are very cool reading I loved 'Carrie' and others suggested... can't go wrong with Mr King

[BitOfFun]

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is an early feminist novella which is a horror of sorts- well worth a look.

[LastTrainToNowhere]

Oh yes, The Yellow Wallpaper is decidedly spooky. It's not traditional horror though, I would liken it to the movie "The Others", if that's what you're looking for.

[janeite]

The Yellow Wallpaper is fab - but not horror.

Let The Right One In is the Swedish vampire novel that inspired the recent film. Haven't seen the film but the book is really quite good.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I was going to say The Haunting of Hill House too.

Otherwise, what about The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. That IS a scary book.

[janeite]

Oh yes, that's a good suggestion. She has another one too about a man in a painting, which is quite fun. Can't remember what it's called though.

[deaddei]

The woman in black gave me nightmares. May have to read it again!

[tillyfernackerpants]

LemonTea, what did you decide on in the end?!

[Litchick]

Can I suggest anything by Clive Barker. Some of his later stuff is fantasy I guess but The Books of Blood and Cabal are very scary but ludicrously well written.

[FritesMenthe]

Technically a crime novel, Peter James' Dead Simple is a scary read.

[TheHeathenOfSuburbia]

The Stand is good but about 6 foot thick, how long do you have to read the books?!

[Comewhinewithme]

I just read The Stand really good Cell is too and not as thick .

[Mumcentreplus]

I haven't finished Cell yet been meaning to..currently reading Dracula (Original)..maybe start with some classics?

[janeite]

I was v disappointed by Cell.

[purepurple]

janeite, me too
Wasn't it just a re-hash of The Stand, but not as good.
But I can forgive him, seeing as he was recovering from his accident.

[janeite]

Yes - a re-hash of The Stand, with a touch of The Road re: the parent/child thing. Couldn't really see the point of it. And I worship at the feet of King, normally.

[LastTrainToNowhere]

I was disappointed by Cell too. It's the first King book that had me wondering what the point was exactly